Introduction

I'm making my son his first chess board for his birthday. In fact, it's my first time making one. I wanted him to have a decent one to use. Hopefully he’ll like it.

For many of you who have made chess boards this writeup may be "old hat" but nonetheless I wanted to share just the same as I go. 

Step 1

 I started by cutting up eight 2-5/16" wide x 20" long pieces on the table saw. Four out of Cedar and four out of Pine. I then used one of my shooting boards and hand planed each side edge of the 2 - 5/16 wide lengths down to 2 - 1/4".

 

 

Step 2

Then I setup up in the clamps for the first glue up. Alternating back and forth with the Cedar and Pine lengths... one Cedar.. one Pine... then Cedar, etc.

 

Now...I have to let the glue dry overnight. Lol.

 

 

Stay tuned ....

 

MrRick

Edited November 24, 2025Nov 24 by MrRick

Nice!

My first one was a miserable failure. Didn't realize that it needed to be attached to a plywood sub-base

Following along Rick.

...... journey continues...

 

Step 3

It's now dry, so I removed the clamps. I used a card scraper to remove any glue lines and surface imperfections. And then I had a Pine / Cedar 18" x 20" sheet. The extra 2” was to allow for kerf width loss. Then I put this back on the tablesaw and using a very good Forrest blade, cut into 2-1/4" lengths across the alternating Cedar/ Pine sheet.
 After cutting and cleanup etc., I then flipped every other length, glued, and put back into the clamps.
 
 When dry the clamps were removed and then the board was finessed  to a final size of 18" x 18". 
 

Step 4
 

I wanted a nice yet simple profiled moulding to frame the board. I cut some lengths and mitered to fit the perimeter. I then pulled out my sticking board and used my moulding planes to make a Classic Ogee moulding profile.

 

 

Then the moulding was glued and reclamped on the board.

 

 

We now wait until tomorrow....

Stay tuned ...

 

Cheers! 

MrRick 

 

If you need an assistant to help watch the glue dry, I'm up to the task Rick.😆

Good thing I don't actually do that! I'd go mad. While it's drying I have two other projects I'm working on. LOL!!

17 minutes ago, Grandpadave52 said:

If you need an assistant to help watch the glue dry, I'm up to the task Rick.😆

As long as there's donuts involved!😄

You can eat one heckuva lot of donuts waiting for glue to dry. 🤪

3 minutes ago, Headhunter said:

As long as there's donuts involved!😄

 

1 minute ago, MrRick said:

You can eat one heckuva lot of donuts waiting for glue to dry. 🤪

That's how I'm up for the task...years of specialized training with a rigid workout schedule and training routine.🤣

... oh I see! Then eating a ton of donuts is a breeze!! 😄

27 minutes ago, MrRick said:

... oh I see! Then eating a ton of donuts is a breeze!! 😄

That would just be his warmup!😄

"Hmmmmm!"

 

Had to look twice. That darn picture looks all too close except I may have a little more hair and wear glasses. Pretty sure my flannel shirt wardrobe has or did have a shirt identical to that one...then I noticed there was no chocolate frosting on the donuts so pretty sure then it wasn't really me.😜

I like this donut better! 🙂

 

 

 

On 11/24/2025 at 2:06 PM, lew said:

Nice!

My first one was a miserable failure. Didn't realize that it needed to be attached to a plywood sub-base

If you do it end-grain no substraight needed

.... so it continues.... the clamps came off.

Here’s the completed board. I then proceeded to French polish with blonde shellac.
 

 

I had pre-ordered some wooden Chess pieces. Here’s the board with them on it.

 

 

Step 5
 

Next the chess pieces needed a box. I could have gotten all elaborate and built a drawer in the board for storing the chess pieces. But thought if he wanted to change the pieces then what would happen if by chance they didn’t fit?

 

So I start today .... stayed tuned! 

Excellent Rick...with or without donuts...excellent!

38 minutes ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Excellent Rick...with or without donuts...excellent!

 

Dang!! I'm getting hungry for some now. Gotta get me some. 😜

6 hours ago, MrRick said:

 

Dang!! I'm getting hungry for some now. Gotta get me some. 😜

You're welcome. My work here is done then.😆

Edited November 26, 2025Nov 26 by Grandpadave52

 

 

.... So I made a separate box...

 

It has a flush lid. Again with a Classic Ogee profile on the front edge of the lid.

 

This matches the Chess board. It also has dovetailed corners and a flush hinge on the back.

 

Like the Chess board it was French polished with blonde shellac.

 

Lastly, I did a blue velvet inlay for inside bottom.

 

 

Here’s an inside view with chess pieces stored.

 

 

The whole completed set.

 

 

Thanks for following and looking!
 

Feel free to comment, ask questions, and thumbs up if you like it.
 

Cheers!
 

MrRick